While commenting on Saakashvili's resignation, Poroshenko said that after Saakashvili's party had lost in parliamentary elections in Georgia, the former Georgian president who was granted Ukrainian citizenship prior to his appointment as Odesa governor had decided to become a politician in Ukraine.

Saakashvili explained, in turn, that he wanted to resign six months prior to that, and his decision had nothing to do with the political situation in Georgia. "President Poroshenko is well aware of the fact that I did not directly participate in the Georgian elections and I was unable to do that even if I wanted, as I'm a Ukrainian citizen."

Saakashvili added that he considers himself to be a Ukrainian politician.